At least 79,853 hilsa fishermen in coastal districts Patuakhali and Barguna, who become jobless during a 22-day ban starting from October 12, will get support under a special VGF (Vulnerable Group Feeding) programme.

Of them, 45,642 will come under the programme in Patuakhali and 34,211 in Barguna, said a fisheries officer.

The programme to support poor and jobless fishermen during the ban has been taken to help smooth breeding and growth of popular fish hilsa, said Patuakhali District Fisheries Officer Md Iqbal Hossain.

One thousand and 597.06 tonnes of rice has already been allocated for the two districts under the programme, he said, adding that 912.84 tonnes has been allocated for Patuakhali and 684.22 tonnes for Barguna.

Under the programme, each fisherman will get 20 kg of rice during the ongoing ban period, said Iqbal.

On the other hand, the programme to support poor and jobless fishermen during the ban on catching hilsa seems inadequate as 22,527 out of 102380 fishermen are outside its coverage, he said.

Meanwhile, a mobile court in Faridpur yesterday sentenced 11 fishermen to 14 days' imprisonment each for catching hilsa in the Padma river during the ongoing ban period, reports our correspondent.

One lakh and 10 thousand metres of current nets, worth about Tk 10 lakh, and 170 kg of hilsa were also seized from the convicts' possession, said District Fisheries Officer Md Nawsher Ali.

According to our Pabna correspondent, 14 fishermen were jailed for one year for defying ban on catching hilsa in Sujanagar upazila.

Away in Chandpur, a mobile court sentenced six fishermen to one year's imprisonment each for defying the ban, reports a correspondent.